When we hear about 3D printing, it is usually in relation to the medical, fashion or automobile industry. However, 3D printing and Hollywood go way back, and this technology has seen the success of many movies. So, with yet another industry benefiting from all that 3D printing has to offer, are there any limitations to what this technology can do?

Printing, in general, has come a long way. Today, we are blessed with inkjet and colour laser printers at our disposal, however one type of printer has captured a lot of press attention recently. In the past few years, 3D printing has been a part of some impressive projects and with industries making use of this technology every single day, who knows where it could take us next? Well, we might have an idea.

There are so many courses available, each targeting a variety of careers, personalities and, above all, skillsets. From archaeology to art and design, there really is something for everyone. In terms of tech, there is also room for it to slot into how universities and colleges operate, course by course, and day by day. In today’s post though, we will be taking a look at one piece of technology, in particular; 3D printing.

If you managed to catch even a glimpse of NCIS: Los Angeles’ new series, you may have noticed their use of 3D printing. In the episode, In the Line of Duty, the team use a 3D printer to reconstruct the crime scene completely, using just photographs. So, let’s take a look at just a few of the ways this technology has been integrated into the way forensics is carried out, and how it makes the process more efficient.

NASA has announced its intentions to move into using 3D printing in space, so they can create spare parts as and when they need them. The 3D hardware builds objects layer by layer with the use of polymers and other materials was first used in space on the 25th November 2014. So, with all this talk of 3D printers creating food and tools in the depths of the universe, it has left us wondering what limits 3D printing has.

Last year we wrote about NASA’s plan to send a 3D printer to the International Space Station. On 17 November 2014 the 3D printer was installed and, on 25 November, it was used to print its first object. Now, the ISS crew has printed a socket wrench using instructions sent by e-mail. Station commander Barry Wilmore had requested the wrench, which would previously have taken months to arrive by rocket.

The printer is no longer a machine for simply applying ink to paper. From the humble beginnings of slow mono printers to the vibrancy and sophistication of modern colour devices, printing has been transformed. Now we are inundated by new printing technologies, the most notable being 3D printing.

It seems obvious that 3D printers aren’t for children, although it may become normal to use them for making Christmas and birthday presents. However, a US company believes there is a gap in the market as it prepares to launch the Printeer, the first 3D printer designed specifically for children. Mission Street Manufacturing plans to ship the first units by October 2014.

3D printing has long since moved beyond lumpy-faced figurines and custom iPhone cases. They have been used to make made racing cars, prosthetic limbs and even human organs. Two years ago, we published an article about Behrokh Khoshnevis who was trying to create the world’s first 3D printed home. So far, he’s been unsuccessful but, now, a team from Amsterdam is aiming to do just that.

In an article published on the BBC News website, it was outlined that everyone's favourite street, Sesame Street, would be making its way (surprisingly) into the world of 3D printing. MakerBot is making a downloadable Mr Snuffleupagus figurine available from their digital store, with more characters set to be introduced later.

Did HP jump the gun when it announced that it would be releasing a 3D printer in June 2014? It would seem so. CEO Meg Whitman 'inadvertently' stated that there would be a big announcement about HP's entry to the 3D printer market in June. This announcement has now been pushed back to the end of HP’s fiscal year in October.

Despite all the hype, 3D printing is still the preserve of specialist companies and committed enthusiasts with deep pockets. At least, for now. That could be about to change, though, as two consumer IT giants look to bring 3D printing to a wider audience. Will 3D printers ever be as widespread as laser printers are now? Maybe not but we seem to inching closer all the time.

What do you do when you need a nose cone for a supersonic car? Simple – you print one out and glue it on. When Bloodhound SSC attempts to smash the world land speed record in 2015, it will use a custom made titanium nose cone which has been built using a 3D printer to ensure that it's incredibly light and strong.

"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot." If you’ve ever watched Star Trek: The Next Generation, you’ll be familiar with the scenario of Captain Picard ordering his favourite hot beverage. The matter replicator has long been a dream of science fiction but, like so many science fiction ideas, it’s on its way to becoming reality. Find out how 3D printing technology will affect life aboard the International Space Station.

If you’ve been following the story of the king in the car park, you’ll know that the remains have been confirmed as those of Richard III. Scientists have been able to bring him spectacularly back to life with a combination of techniques, including 3D printing.

The home 3D printing revolution takes another step forward with an app that turns your iPhone into a 3D scanner. Previously, 3D modelling software allowed you to upload and print your own designs but 123 Catch goes a step further. Now you can scan, upload and print a 3D object using a simple, free app.

Beauty the bald eagle was discovered at a landfill in Alaska, slowly starving to death. Part of her beak had been destroyed when she was shot by a poacher, making it almost impossible for her to eat. Now, thanks to the wonders of 3D printing, Beauty is sporting a bionic beak, which has restored her looks and her ability to feed herself.

Mars rover Curiosity has been in the news a great deal as it explores the surface of Earth's nearest planetary neighbour. Whilst Curiosity still has nearly two years of its mission left, NASA is busy working on its successors and is employing 3D printing technology to create the next generation of Mars rovers.

Is there anything you can't do with a 3D printer? Well, yes lots but the list is growing smaller all the time. The United States Army is the latest organisation to recognise the potential of 3D printers as it begins using them to manufacture replacement equipment in the field.

Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California has developed an idea for a 3D printer which, he says, can build a house in less than 24 hours. If it works, it could have a massive impact for the homeless and those living in inadequate housing around the world. The only problem is that the printer is still a long way from actually being built.

Every now and then a story comes along that really tugs at the heartstrings but rarely, if ever, does it have anything to do with the world of printers and printing. However, we've been quite fortunate lately to feature a few feel-good stories and we don't think you can have too much of a good thing.

Printing a fully functional human organ using a 3D printer has been the Holy Grail of the medical world ever since it became a realistic possibility. Although a working human organ fit for transplant has yet to be created artificially, advances in 3D printing mean that there is huge potential for this to become a reality very soon.

3D printers – they just won't go away, will they? Having moved out of the laboratory and into the commercial world, 3D printers then started finding their way into people’s homes. Now they've gone a stage further and actually gone mobile. It's not like there's just one of them, either, as there are several portable 3D printers already available.

It had to happen. With the 3D printing revolution in full swing, there are almost limitless uses for the technology and, as a result, 3D printers are being incorporated into the design of many robots. Now, a robotics team in Zurich has gone one stage further by creating a robot that can manufacture its own tools.

October will see the launch of a new event in London as the 3D Printshow gets under way for the first time. The event will bring together some of the leading names in the world of 3D printing for three days, starting on October 19th.

3D printing technology has been combined with printed electronic circuitry to create the world’s first fully printed hybrid structure – a 'smart' wing for an unmanned aircraft. The technology has huge potential to revolutionise manufacturing, not just for military aircraft but also for commercial aircraft, medical devices and the automotive industry.

3D printing in chocolate is now a commercial reality as British-based company Choc Edge goes to market with the Choc Creator Version 1. Although too late for this Easter, the Choc Creator is nonetheless generating a great deal of interest and it won't be long before customised confectionery becomes readily available.

3D printing is getting faster and more accurate all the time and, for most people, the focus has been on making printers that can create larger objects. However, a team of scientists at the Vienna University of Technology has taken things in a different direction.

Amongst the many and varied applications for 3D printing, some of which seem merely aesthetic, or even frivolous, there are some which genuinely have a positive impact on people’s lives. Here, we look at just a couple of examples where 3D printing is actually being used to improve people's quality of life, or make it easier in a meaningful way.

Ever since 3D printing became fashionable again, it seems that hardly a week goes by without someone finding a clever, innovative or downright bizarre use for 3D printers. Now the technology is being applied in a somewhat unusual way as palaeontologists use it to create replica dinosaur bones.